How important is a title?

So this is one of those many times when I have a wee idea and then start typing without much clue where I intend on going, so bear with me!

I suppose this is my own thought shower version of ‘What’s in a name?’ or ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’. The idea sparked when I re-watched on of my absolute favourite films: ‘Stuck in Love’ starring Lily Collins and Nat Wolfe. I first watched this film maybe a year or two ago, and had sort of completely forgotten about it, until I saw it online recently, remembered how much I’d enjoyed it, and decided to re-watch.

I could have done a review I suppose but something changed my mind. The next day, a friend asked me for some film recommendations and I found myself suggesting this film, and then defending it by saying something along the lines of “I know the title makes it sound lame but I promise it’s really good and emotional and thought provoking.”

Now, I’m not slagging typically considered ‘lame’, girly movies- I was having a bad day earlier this week and ended up watching the Bratz movie for goodness sake!! But for someone reason I really wanted my friend to know that the film I was recommending to them was, in my opinion, pretty intellectual! Or at the very least, held a real message and featured some excellent performances from the cast.

Yet when I said the title I could imagine my friend writing it off as a chick flick.

Was the title a mistake on the creators’ part? Or is it my (our) fault for holding such silly connotations with perfectly normal words? Or, is it our attitude to so-called chick-flicks? When did it become embarrassing for a film to fall into that category? When they became mass-produced?

As I sit here I realise that I have no real answer to this question! Haha. But I hope I’ve intrigued anybody who’s still reading to at least give the film a go! Honestly, I love it.

And feel free to let me know your opinions on titles in the comments!

 

Catriona

"Good things come to those who wait"..... Hmmm

We’ve all heard the saying. Maybe from our Grandparents, who always have a cute wee meaningless moto to apply to every tough situation, or from our parents who want us to learn the art of patience.

I understand the idea behind it. If you hold on, aren’t impatient and continue to work hard and be a decent person, eventually the prize you’re after will be yours. Well, most of the time. It’s a saying designed to raise hope and spirits. To encourage perseverance and defeat doubt.

However, I cannot say I agree, on the whole, with this particular saying. As I said above, the truth is really that good things come to those who work hard, or at least do something other than the implied strategy of simply waiting.

I’m sure some of the people in the world perceived to be the luckiest had to do very little to obtain their good things, but most had to do lots. I think that, too often, we believe that things will be handed to us on a plate in exchange for patience and recently I’ve realised that, if everyone did nothing but wait, there would be no good things for anyone.

I’m not condoning rushing into every opportunity and demanding a positive result, hard work AND patience are required. In fact, patience is essential because, as another popular saying goes, “nothing happens overnight”.

But to only wait, and therefore fail to put effort into things seems to me to be greedy and undeserving. Surely we deserve what we earn!? Don’t get me wrong, I am the worst for waiting for things to come to me, instead of making an effort to aid their occurrence. But I guess that’s why I talk about these kind of subjects on this blog, to inspire myself as much as anyone reading.

So that guy/girl you like who hasn’t asked you out yet? Go ahead and strike up a conversation! That ability to play piano you begrudge your friend? Have a go practicing yourself! That part-time job you think you would be really good at? Hand in a C.V.!

“I’ll see what happens” is so easy to say, but the answer is nothing if you truly believe that “Good things come to those who wait”. Wait, sure. But that comes after. First, you’ve got to DO.

Raisin

 Yes, I have been absent for a month and a half. No, there's no excuse.

I return with more of a typical blog post, where I talk about an event in my life instead off just asking lots of questions and theorising about things..... Don't worry, more of that soon.

Over 3 weeks ago now (wow!) was probably my favourite weekend of University so far. I spent the Friday night and Saturday in Edinburgh at the Scottish Universities Folk Festival (SUFF) with my buddies from the Folk&Trad Society and stayed over at a school friend's flats which was a nice catch-up, but the element I especially want to talk about is a little St. Andrews University tradition: Raisin Weekend.

I'm not sure if I ever actually announced it on my blog, but the university I decided to study at is University of St. Andrews. I've been here for over 9 weeks and I love it. We all have good and bad days, but overall I definitely so far feel that I made the best possible decision for me.



My Academic Dad, siblings and I!

One rather unique thing about SAU is vast number of strange traditions, dating back many many years. One of the most exciting of these, especially for freshers, is Raisin Weekend.

In St. Andrews, we have academic families. During the first few weeks, first years are 'adopted' by 3rd years, until you have an academic mum, dad and often many brothers and sisters. On Raisin Sunday, you go to your academic mum's house in the morning for  'tea party' and games and then to your dad's in the evening for another party. And then on Raisin
 Monday you report to your mum's to be dressed up in whatever weird and wonderful costume she decides, and then to your dad's to receive your 'raisin receipt', which is most often an awkward-to-carry objects which you and your siblings transport to the Quad, where all the first years have the world's largest shaving foam fight! It's kinda mad but loads of fun!


Scavenger hunt with my sisters!

I'll admit, Raisin was something I was really quite nervous about, because, while it Amy sound all nice nicey, a fair amount of alcohol and drinking games is involved. I must clarify, it IS NOT a stipulation to drink, and you can still have loads of fun without drinking, but playing drinking games and getting a bit tipsy has become a large part of the tradition. Some academic parents can be more adventurous and mean than others, and of course you only hear the worst stories (mostly only rumours!)




Scavenger hunt fun with the fam (and some strangers haha)

But my raisin was soooo much fun. I was woken by my mum's with a tequila shot at 08:45- and I won't go on and on and list lots of drinks (and can I just confirm that I was very sensible about not getting really drunk or making myself ill!) but it's fair to say that my morning welcome set up pretty much what the day would be like! My mum's were very inventive, getting us to play drinking versions of popular children's party games: musical statues, pass the parcel, Jenga and many more! I found myself wheeling a shopping trolley around my accommodation block, playing water balloon cricket on the grass and running around town on a scavenger hunt, carrying out tasks such as the chariots of fire routine on the beach and imitating a lizard- all while attached to 3 of my siblings by string! I then proceeded to my dad's to play Weetabix dodgeball and eat lots of pizza!
All in all, it was a really funny exciting day and I urge anyone who chooses to study St. Andrews to really get themselves involved with the traditions because its something you'll remember for your whole academic career and beyond.


The raisin Monday foam fight was really very random! Myself and my siblings were dressed as Harry Potter, butt then of course we arrived at different our dad's houses, so we all met our other set of siblings and carried our raisin receipts to the quad (mine was a rather large flag!)  where there were lots of official people and police- I hadn't relished how organised and formal the foam fight was! So basically we all had this slightly hangover foam fight where we lost all our siblings and friends are were suddenly surrounded by strangers! Eventually I found some of playmates and friends and, when it was all over, we headed back, freezing cold, to get showered- there was nothing to do but to walk straight into the shower, fully clothed! The looks we got from tourists and passers by as we trudged home were hilarious!




My 2 academic mum's and all the Harry Potter's!!



Covered in foam!



All in different costumes with our raisin receipt!

I think Raisin is something which is, and should be, fun. Stay safe, give everything (within reason) a go and just enjoy. I had an essay due on the Monday so made sure I handed it in there Friday before which was the best decision ever because you just want to be able to relax and have a great time. As I said, Raisin is a memory forever and a definite selling point of St. A's haha!





To the quad we go!!

But even if you go to a different unit or just in life in general, I hope you take from this an idea of some of the strange traditions at SAU and an open mind towards trying new things and letting your hair down (I promise, I'm the worst for being negative, and the socialising of things like Raisin can seem haunting, but uni is about meeting new people and what better chance?!)

Catriona xxx



I'm just gonna 'do' me

Before I begin, I'd like to quickly clear something up! When I use the term 'do' here, I AM NOT MAKING ANY KIND OF SEXUAL REFERENCE! If you continue reading, that will soon be clear haha.

So, I can't quite believe I've been away at University for just about 3 weeks now! The time has absolutely flown by! I'm stuck right into lectures and tutorials now, and my work load is very heavy! But I'm sure I'll get used to it all soon enough, I can already feel certain routines building their way into my life!

Right before I left home for the adventure we all know as 'fresher's week', I made myself a promise: I'm just gonna 'do' me.

You know how when we impersonate someone or something, people often say you 'do' them really well? Well too often I find it easier to adopt the persona of someone (not a real person, just a mash up of the qualities I admire) instead of going into things as 100% me, and I reckon I'm not alone in that.

It's not a case of lying to people, I don't make up stuff about myself. But maybe I act in a slightly different way, or withhold details about my life or interests that I don't think people will share/approve of.

However, since arriving at uni I've done my very best to be a version of me that is as true to me as I possibly can be, while still allowing myself to try new experiences and things that aren't usually 'me', but may become so now that the opportunity is there. I hope I'm making sense!

For example, I go out and go to pubs/clubs when I want, I study when and in the way I want, I drink when I want, I eat what I want , I watch what I want on TV, and, most importantly, when topics like these and others come up in discussion with the friends and peers I've met since arriving here, I answer honestly, whether it be telling them what time I went to bed, or how much I studied for a class. I'm not claiming I have achieved this state of 'doing' me every minute of every day, but that has been my goal and I believe I have improved at it, particularly since the impression I have given of myself now, is the one which will last for the next four or more years.

The main point I want to get across is that too often we (well, me anyway!) worry extensively about how other people will think of us, and then end up caught in a sort of false situation that we feel pressured to fulfil all the time. When you 'do' yourself from the start, then you meet people who are truly similar to you when it comes to the different aspects of your life and personality. I have a friend who I hang out with when I'm not drinking because most likely she isn't either, I have a friend who sits every Sunday and watches Downtown Abbey with me, and one who is happy to go with me to the library when I want to get a book. I have a friend who's is usually up for going to the pub or club with me, and one who goes to church on a Sunday morning, just like me. And these 'friends' are not always the same person because, like me, all my friends have different elements and sides to their personalities that are more prominent at different times. But if I was to  'do' someone else, I may not find the people who are best at being my friends and, almost certainly, I would be far less happy here than I am.

By all means, I would encourage everyone to try, once in a while 'doing' someone or something a little different or even the complete opposite to the you you know, but please, I urge you to do so only to find qualities which you think could become a part of you, and not to hide away from just being yourself.

Many actors and actresses (one example I can think of is the very lovely Carrie Hope Fletcher) say that they find it far easier to go on stage as a character than to go on as themselves (for example at an awards ceremony or other event), because they have a persona and pre-written story behind which to hide. They're right. But they still do it, don't they? And so can we, it just takes a little bit of courage.

Book Review: 'The Opposite of Lonliness' by Marina Keegan

THIS IS A MUST READ FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON. I could stop there and have made the most important point, but that wouldn't be a very interesting review so here we go...
Months ago, I saw Emma Watson (as I'm sure I've mentioned before, one of my leading idols and girl-crushes haha) post on her Facebook page about how good this book was, so I took a screenshot and didn't think that much about it. Then, recently, I went into Waterstones because I wanted to treat myself, and I showed the picture to the member of staff, who found the book for me.

I hadn't read up on what it was, or what it was about at all. So starting it was a nice surprise. It turned out to be a collection of short stories and non-fiction essays, so I read it in bits over a longer period of time. I don't make a habit of reading non-fiction work that often, with the exception of the odd biography and texts for my studies, so it was a real change.

The book's introduction is written by an ex- professor of Keegan when she studied at Yale University. I don't think there's any real or convincing way for me to convey to you how emotional and thought provoking the book became from that moment forward. Keegan graduated from Yale University, and died in a car crash just 5 days later. Her teachers, friends and family worked to create the book 'The Opposite of Loneliness' which is all the more hard-hitting considering the tragedy: she was a true talent taken far far too young.

The book begins with the essay which shares the title of the collection itself, and the concept is so relatable. I have often dwelt upon that amazing feeling of being a part of something, of feeling like you belong to something, but have never known quite what to call it. 'The Opposite of Loneliness' fits perfectly.

The book continues with some short fiction stories, and then some more essays. Each piece evokes thoughts and emotions which I felt I could mostly understand, partly from my own experience and partly due to her vivid description. Each dealt with an issue associated with being a young student, or reflected upon a political idea or opinion, a source of inspiration I too appreciate.

Perhaps I was just feeling emotional while I read it, or perhaps it was the fact that, for me, unit and all these experiences lay just around the corner, but I really felt like I connected with Keegan's words: an intelligent girl in love with writing and academia, trying be the best version of her, balance a work/social life balance, afford uni, and avoid the groping arms of stress and depression. Towards the end of the book, I even found out that Keegan had, at some point in her University life, studied International Relations (my degree, for those who don't know). It's incredibly cheesy and cliché, but it felt in that moment like the book was written for me- and I reckon it would feel that way to all those who read it!

Despite the sad circumstances in which it came about, 'The Opposite of Loneliness' had the opposite effect on me, it made me feel less lonely, it inspired me to keep writing as much as possible and use my ideas, to work hard and to live life to the absolute fullest because so often its just not long enough, to strive to be a positive influence on others and take risks and enjoy being young. It made me excited for unit and for all the opportunities that lie ahead. It quickly became my favourite read of all time.

Please, if you read just one book this year, make it this one. I highly doubt you'll regret it.

Film Review 'Blended'

This was one of those many films which I saw the cinema trailer for, and kept trying to arrange to go and see but I was always either busy, or my friends were busy or whatever, until it was no longer in the cinema or in the forefront of my head! Recently, my family were away on holiday and I had an evening to myself and nothing particular I wanted to watch so I went into the DVD rental store and saw this.


I always enjoy a good Adam Sandler comedy. I just think he's hilarious! I also love the movie '50 First Dates' which sees him star alongside Drew Barrymore, as is the case in 'Blended'.


Brief Summary: Barrymore's character is a single mum. She works as a wardrobe organiser and has no real love life to speak of. Sandler is a single father with three daughters whose wife died when they were very young. When they meet on a blind date it does not go well. However, when Barrymore's business partner and Sandler's boss (another couple) cancel their holiday with the kids in a family resort called 'blended' (a resort designed specifically for bonding time between members of non-traditional families) Sandler and Barrymore are each offered a room. What they're unaware of, is the fact that the other will be there.


The story is funny. Unbelievable, but funny. While it does end up as a romance (which I'm a sucker for!), the real charm of this film lies in the extra storylines: the teenage daughter without a mother longing to be treated like an adult and be noticed by the cute guy at their dinner table, the little kid restricted by his mother's overprotective attitude, the daughter who thinks she can talk to her invisible 'mum', the dad who think he's a dad but is never around, the funny dancing guy at the holiday resort who seems to appear out of nowhere, the list goes on...!


A very funny duo, and  a film I found myself not wanting to end! Made me kind of sad coz I watched it on the first night that my family was away and I couldn't see them for 10 days! But otherwise, a great watch!

Film Reviews: 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' & 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'

I bought the first of these films on DVD from a car boot sale a while back, but never got round to watching it. Then, at the end of July, I had a close friend of mine from England up to stay for the weekend (it was a really awesome weekend- so maybe I should do a post just about what we got up to?) and we decided to watch the first one, and rent and watch the second one too! I then reached the first one a couple of weeks later with another friend who had just returned from the part of India in which the film was shot!

The best word to describe these films is heart-warming. The first follows the stories of several elderly people who have made the decision to uproot their lives and check into a hotel in India which is a 'retirement community' (but id really a financially unstable crumbling business run by a young man, played by Dev Patel, with a big heart and a big dream, who's simultaneously coping with the pressures of a controlling mother who won't allow him to marry the girl of his dreams).


Throughout the first film you see each resident develop as a person, watch them discover who they really are and make peace with the fact that they have a limited number of months left in this world. The cast, which included Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imray, Bill Night, Tom Wilkinson and Ronald Pickup, were sensational and the plot inspiring.


The second film carries their stories on, as competition from another buyer casts doubt on the future of the Exotic Marigold Hotel Franchise dream. These stresses test the lead characters devotion to each other, and their collective goal and reminds us all that life is worth living, and that we should make the most of every single day (I don't care if some of you view that as cliché haha!)


All-in-all, a fantastic duo of films and I definitely recommend them. They would make for a really nice family movie night too, as their inspirational messages and comedic value hold something for everyone!